Reposted from ArtNet News

Axe-wielding thieves targeted an exhibition of miniature precious objects at the Musée Cognacq-Jay in Paris on Wednesday morning, stealing seven highly prized snuffboxes, including two loaned by the British Crown. French media has widely reported that treasures worth a whopping €1 million ($1 million) were taken during the heist, but this figure has not been confirmed by Paris Musées, which is still assessing the damage. In a brazen act of daylight robbery that was committed in front of visitors and staff, the gang broke into the building on Wednesday morning, during its opening hours and used axes and baseball bats to smash a display case.

Within just three minutes, they were already fleeing the scene on
motorcycles. Nobody was injured. The stolen objects were all loans from world class collections, including Collection on loan to the V&A in London, and another two from the U.K.’s Royal Collection. “Investigations linked to the enquiry and the assessment of this immense loss are underway,” said Paris Musées in an update statement published today. these are being coordinated by the City of Paris, the Brigade for the Suppression of Banditry (BRB), and national police. “Naturally, all
protective measures have been taken.”

These included several snuffboxes, which were used in the 18th century to
store snuff, a mixture of ground tobacco and scented oils. The most
valuable, decorated examples became coveted collectors’ items in the 19th
century. One of the stolen items was a particularly exquisite piece from the Royal
Collection, which loaned five items to “Pocket Luxury.” Made in Berlin in
the 1770s for Frederik III of Prussia, the snuffbox’s green jasper case has
mounted gold borders and foliage decorations encrusted with nearly three
thousand diamonds.

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